Chapter 21: Shifting Views
Monday afternoon, Kazuki went with Sakura to her doctor’s appointment. When she mentioned going in for a check-up, he asked to join her, wanting to know more about her illness and to share this part of her life, if he could.
The long hospital building was wide and low, only four floors tall. Inside, everything was white, the walls, the ceiling, the nurses’ crisp uniforms, even the doctors’ jackets. The stench of disinfectant burned his nose and made his eyes water, forcing him to tune his sense of smell down as low as he could. He hated to think of how many times Sakura must have sat in this sterile, cold room, alone, contemplating her life while waiting to see how much longer she had.
When her name was called, they headed to the specified examination room whe
